New York state, in collaboration with the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, has launched Snapshot NY, a citizen science program that allows the public to participate in wildlife monitoring through the deployment of trail cameras.

The project will help improve the way the state Department of Environmental Conservation monitors and manages more than a dozen wildlife species.  

“More than 60% of land in New York is privately owned, and this new collaborative effort will help DEC biologists collect critical information about wildlife in areas where our experts have historically lacked access,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As an added bonus, Snapshot NY is a fantastic opportunity to get outside, connect with the outdoors, and directly contribute to wildlife conservation efforts in New York state.”

Angela Fuller, leader of the U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and professor at Cornell said Snapshot NY represents an opportunity to generate large-scale, long-term data on wildlife populations across the state.

“This collaboration exemplifies how partnerships among agencies, scientists and the public can advance wildlife conservation and management in meaningful and measurable ways,” she said.

The data collected through Snapshot NY will help DEC continue to make decisions, improve the effectiveness of wildlife conservation and management strategies, and track changes in wildlife populations over time.

To become a volunteer for Snapshot NY:

• Access to land: Volunteers are encouraged to place trail cameras on private property. For the project, the state has been divided into approximately 4,500 grid cells, with a goal to get a camera in as many cells as possible. Those without access will need permission to set up a camera on nearby public land.

• A trail camera: Use your own trail camera (preferred) or apply to borrow a trail camera through the Snapshot program. Trail cameras detect heat signatures and motion and snap photos of passing animals.

• Access to internet and a willingness to upload photos: Volunteers download the Snapshot NY app and periodically upload images (about once every two weeks) to the Snapshot NY website, including GPS coordinates, time, and date to contribute to the statewide dataset.

• No prior experience required: Whether you are someone who loves nature or a hunter scouting for the upcoming season, the program is open to all. It’s a great way to glimpse the hidden lives of New York wildlife.

• Create an account: Volunteers can create an account at snapshotny.org and select one of the survey blocks to deploy a trail camera. If your chosen block is already reserved, DEC strongly encourages participants to consider selecting a block on nearby available public lands or to sign up for the waitlist for the preferred block.

DEC’s Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz

DEC, in partnership with 13 Great Lakes and Northeast states and five Canadian provinces, is conducting the seventh annual Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz.

The international campaign informs boaters and other water recreationists about the risks of introducing and spreading aquatic invasive species. During this coordinated outreach effort, information will be distributed at more than a thousand water access sites throughout the Great Lakes and Northeast regions through July 13.

Last year’s landing blitz saw more than 1,000 stewards, volunteers and staff inspect approximately 190,000 boats, intercept more than 1,000 aquatic invasive species, and educate more than 230,000 people across the northeastern United States and Canada.

During the remainder of the 2024 boating season, DEC’s boat stewards performed an additional 189,576 inspections and intercepted an additional 12,184 aquatic invasive species at boat launches throughout New York.

For more information on the Great Lakes and Northeast AIS Landing Blitz, visit glc.org/work/blitz.

Oak wilt a potential threat to WNY trees

The next potential threat facing Western New York’s trees could make the jump from across the border.

Trees in Canada’s Niagara Region have been infected with oak wilt, a fungal disease that means certain death for those infected. Sap beetles carry the disease, which interferes with the oak tree’s circulatory system. It can also spread through the interconnected root systems of trees.

There is no known cure with red and pin oak trees dying within weeks of infection. White oaks may show greater resistance to oak wilt.

In New York state, there have already been reports of oak wilt in the counties of Steuben, Oswego, Ontario, Yates, Tioga, Saratoga, Schenectady as well as the New York City area. The DEC has emergency orders in place in Yates and Ontario counties to stop its spread.

Twenty states stretching from New York to Texas and South Dakota have reported infections, killing millions of trees in the Midwest.

Symptoms of infection include leaves falling from trees prematurely, colored brown with no signs of color on the tips and outer edges and vertical cracked bark that emits a fruity smell.

The most effective prevention method is getting trees vaccinated with preventative fungicide, which can only be done with state-licensed applicators. They should be vaccinated every two to three years until the threat has passed.

Other tips for preventing oak wilt from spreading in the area include:

• Do not prune or trim oak trees until late summer or fall. If they have to be pruned, the wound should be covered in a prune sealer or latex paint. Sap beetles can smell freshly exposed food from miles away.

• Do not purchase firewood imported from other counties or states. While oak wilt cannot be transmitted by burning infected firewood, fungal mats can form on unseasoned red oak wood.